#OcimumTenuiflorum

Across Thai gardens and temple courtyards, the distinctive aroma of holy basil—known locally as kaphrao (กะเพรา)—is a familiar and beloved presence. For centuries, Ocimum tenuiflorum, or tulsi as it is called in much of South Asia, has served as far more than a culinary herb or ornamental plant. Revered throughout Thai and Asian traditions for both its healing powers and spiritual significance, holy basil is emerging as a botanical protagonist in the intersection between ancient remedies and modern science. Recent research is now unpacking the many claims surrounding this plant, exploring whether its time-honored reputation as a “Queen of Herbs” holds up in the laboratory as well as in the lore of Thai families.

In Thai kitchens and temple courtyards, the aroma of sacred basil, known locally as kaphrao, is instantly recognizable. Ocimum tenuiflorum, or tulsi in much of South Asia, has long been more than a culinary herb or ornamental plant. Revered for both healing and spiritual significance, holy basil is now at the center of a growing dialogue between tradition and science. Recent studies are testing whether its celebrated reputation as the “Queen of Herbs” stands up to modern investigation, while Thai families continue to rely on it in daily life.

Red holy basil, known in Thailand as gaprao daeng, remains a cornerstone of Thai kitchens and traditional healing. While globally called holy basil and scientifically Ocimum tenuiflorum, it is the red-tinged cultivar that captures Thailand’s enduring link between plant-based living and wellness. Thai households long used gaprao daeng to ease coughs, fevers, and various ailments, while modern researchers explore its potential to address chronic disease and stress. This evolving dialogue between old wisdom and new science holds particular relevance for Thai readers who value both cultural heritage and evidence-based health.

Red holy basil, known locally in Thailand as “กะเพราแดง” (gaprao daeng), is cherished across the country both for its distinctive spicy aroma and as a revered medicine in traditional healing. Although famed globally as “holy basil” or by its scientific name, Ocimum tenuiflorum (synonyms: Ocimum sanctum, etc.), it is the dramatic red-tinged cultivar—celebrated in Thai folklore, kitchens, and herbal medicine—that captures the nation’s deep connection to plant-based health. Long before the rise of modern clinics and pharmacies, gaprao daeng was already a mainstay of Thai homes, used to treat everything from coughs and fevers to spiritual malaise. Now, as researchers worldwide search for new therapies to tackle chronic diseases and stress, science is returning its focus to this humble herb, striving to validate the ancient wisdom held by countless Thai elders.